S.V.

M PUBLIC SCHOOL

TOPIC- CONSTITUTENTS OF AN ALLOY

SUBMITTED TO- MR. DC SHARMA

(CHEMISTRY H.O.D)

SUBMITTED BY- DEVA

SHARMA

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Deva sharma student of class 12th A,S.V.M
Public School has successfully completed the research project on the
topic Study of constituents of ALLOYS under the guidance of Mr.
D.C Sharma during the academic year 2014-15 towards practical
fulfillment of credit for the chemistry practical evaluation of AISSCE
2015 and submitted satisfactory report, as compiled in the following
pages.
Teacher in charge: Mr. DC Sharma
(chemistry H.O.D)

INDEX
TOPICS

PAGE NO.

1. Acknowledgement

2. Introduction

3. Aim

of the experiment

a- General

objective

b- Specific

objective

4. Materials

Required

5. Theory

5-7

6. Details of procedure
7. Conclusion

8-12
13

8. Bibliography

14

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I, Deva Sharma of class XLL A express my gratitude to my
school authorities for allowing me to undertake the project titled
Alloy Analysis. I naturally could not have done justice to my
delicate assignment, had I not been privileged to get the
animate guidance from (Mr. D.C Sharma, Chemistry H.O.D
SVM Public School) . I also express sincere thanks to my family
who extended helping hand in completing this project.
I cant forget to offer my sincere thanks to my classmates who
helped me to carry out his project work successfully and for
their valuable advice and support which I received from time to
time.

INTRODUCTION
An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals or a
metal and non-metal.
They are generally harder than their components with reduced
malleability and ductility. Alloys are prepared to enhance certain
characteristics of the constituent metals, as per requirement.
In this project, we shall qualitatively analyze the chemical
composition of two alloys:
Brass and Bronze

AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT

* General objective:
This project is being carried out with a view to increase the
appreciation of alloy-analysis as an important branch of
chemistry. The hands-on laboratory experience gained is highly
beneficial in understanding the general procedure of qualitative
analysis of an unknown sample.

*Specific objective:
In this project, we shall be analyzing the constituents of
Brass and Bronze.

MATERIALS REQUIRED
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

Brass and Bronze pieces

China dishes
Filtration apparatus
Nitric acid
Hydrogen sulphide gas
Ammonium hydroxide
Ammonium chloride
Dil hydrochloric acid

THEORY
Brass :
Brass contains Cu and Zn . Both dissolve in nitric acid.
4Zn+ 10 HNO3= 4Zn(NO3)2 + N2O + 5H2O

3Cu + 8 HNO3= 3Cu(NO3)2 + 4H2O+2NO

Further analysis is carried out for respective ions.
Cu dissolves in H2S to give black ppt. of CuS. It is filtered to get the soln
of Zinc Sulphide. It precipitates out in the form of ZnCl 2 in an ammoniacal
soln. of Ammonium chloride. The precipitate is dissolved in dilute HCl
and then treated with Potassium ferrocyanide to get a bluish-white ppt.
of Zn2[Fe(CN)6].

Bronze :
Bronze contains Cu and Sn. Their nitrates are obtained by dissolving the
sample in conc. Nitric acid. The nitrates are precipitated as sulphides by
passing H2S through their solution in dil. HCl.
The CuS is insoluble in yellow ammonium sulphide, while SnS is soluble. The
ppt. is separated by filtration.
The ppt. is dissolved in conc. HNO3 and then Ammonium hydroxide solution is
passed through it.Blue colouration confirms the presense of Cu.
The filtrate is treated with conc. HCl followed by Zinc dust to obtain SnCl2 .
Then HgCl2 solution is added. Formation of slate-coloured ppt. indicates the
presence of Sn.
SnS2 +HCl(conc.)= SnCl4 + H2S
SnCl4 +Fe= SnCl2+FeCl2
SnCl2 + HgCl2 = Hg2Cl2 + SnCl4

USES OF ALLOYS

To
To
To
To
To
To

modify chemical reactivity.

increase hardness.
increase tensile strength.
lower the melting point.
modify the color.
resist the corrosion.

EXPERIMENT-1
Objective : To analyse sample of brass qualitatively.
Requirements: China dish, test-tube funnel, filter paper and common
laboratory reagents.
Theory:

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. with the following.

Composition :
Cu = 60-90% and Zn. = 10-40%.
Thus Cu and Zn. form the main constituents of brass. Both these
metals dissolved in 50% of nitric acid due to formation of nitrates
which are soluble.
4Zn + 10HNO3

4Zn(NO3)2 +N2O + 5H20

3CU + 8 HNO3

3Cu(NO3)2 + 4 H20+ 2NO

PROCEDURE
1. Place a small piece of brass in a china dish and heat this with minimum quantity
of 50% HNO3 so as to dissolve the piece completely.
2. Continue heating the solution till a dry solid residue is obtained.
3. Dissolve the solid residue in dil. HCl and filter. Add distilled water to the filtrate.
4. Pass H2S gas through the filtrate. A black precipitate of copper sulphide is
obtained. Separate the black ppt. and keep the filtrate for the test of Zn+2 ions
Dissolve black ppt. by heating them with 50% HNO3. To this solution add
ammonium hydroxide solution. Appearance of deep blue coloration in the solution
shows the presence of copper ions in the solution.
5. To test Zn+2 ions, boil the filtrate to remove H2S gas, then add solid NH4Cl to this
and heat to dissolve NH4Cl. Add excess of NH4OH so that a solution is ammoniacal.
Now pass H2S gas through this ammoniacal solution. Dirty white or grey
precipitation indicate zinc. Separate the precipitates and dissolve it in minimum
amount of dil. HCl. Boil to expel H2
S gas and add potassium Ferro cyanide solution,
white or bluish white ppt. confirm Zn+2 ions in the solution.
Result :
The given sample of brass contains copper and zinc. metals as the main
constituents.

EXPERIMENT-2
Objective : To analyse sample of Bronze qualitatively.
Requirements: China dish, test-tube funnel, filter paper and common
laboratory reagents.
Theory:

Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin with the following.

Composition :
Cu = 88-96% and Sn. = 4-12%.Thus copper and zinc. form the main constituents of
bronze. Both these metalsdissolved in nitric acid.
3Cu + 8H+ + 2NO3

3Cu2+ + 2NO+ 4H20

4Sn + No3- + 10H+

(cold and dil acid)

4Sn+2 + NH4+ + 3H2O

Sn + 4NO3- + 4H+
H2SnO3 + 2NO2 + H2O
(conc. Acid) (Metastannic acid)
Cu2+ + s2
H2SnO3 + 2H2S

CuS(black ppt)
SnS2(black ppt) + 3 H2O

PROCEDURE
1.Take about 1g. of small pieces of bronze in a china dish and add to it 5-10 ml.
of dil. HNO3.
2. Heat the contents slowly to dissolve copper and tin completely and then boil the
contents to a paste to remove excess of HNO3. All this is carried out in
cup board.
3. Dissolve this dry mass in distilled water containing HCl (1:1) to get a clear
solution.
4. Transfer the solution in a test tube and pass H2S in excess i.e. till the
precipitation is complete. Filter and reject the filtrate.
5. Take the black ppt. in a test tube and add to it 2-3 ml. of yellow ammonium
sulphide and heat. Filter the contents. Black residue is tested for Cu+2 ions and
filtrate is tested for Sn+2ions

6. Analysis of black residue :

Transfer a little of the black ppt. into a test tube. Add to it 2-3 ml. of 50%. HNO3
and boil the contents of the tube. A light blue or green sol. indicates the presence
of Cu+2. Divide this sol. into two parts.
(a) To one part add excess of NH4OH a deep blue coloration confirms the
presence of Cu+2 ions
.
(b) Acidify the second part with acetic acid and add K4 [Fe (CN)6] i.e. potassium
ferrocyanide solution. A reddish brown ppt. confirms the presence of Cu+2 ions.
7. Analysis of filtrate :
Boil the filtrate with 1 ml. of dil. HCl. A yellow ppt. is obtained. Dissolve in 1
ml.conc. HCl. To this solution add 0.5 g. of zinc. dust and boil it for 2-3 minutes.
Filter and to filtrate add 1-2 ml. of mercuric chloride solution. A white ppt. turning
grey on standing confirms the presence of Sn+4 ions.
Result :
The given sample of bronze contains - Cu and Sn as the main constituents.

CONCLUSION

 Brass contains Copper and Zinc.

Bronze contains Copper and Tin.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
www.google.com

www.cbse.nic.in
Comprehensive 12 chemistry
th

practical book.